QT 1/19/2023 1 Sam 28:9-15, Seek him now, you do not want to wait

1 Samuel 28:9–15 (ESV) —

9 The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” 10 But Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” 13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” 14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.

15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.”

 

NOTE: I believe, by the woman's response, that this had not happened before. She actually saw a person coming back from the dead. Prior to Jesus' victory on the cross, Paradise was located below, in the earth across from Hades with a large gap between the two areas. Everyone who died went "down" into the earth into one of the two areas. I doubt anyone could call up a person from Paradise, also called Abraham's bosom. I doubt if anyone could call up an individual from Hades. If they did it was most likely a demon faking another person. It is to Satan's advantage for people to believe in some spiritual world, just as long as it doesn't represent the real truth. I believe God allowed Samuel to come up, his words which follow Samuel's answer are too true and prophetic to be a demon.

 

The bigger question is why did Saul stoop so low? He answers in his response to Samuel. He was in "great distress," (he was suffering emotionally), the Philistines were warring (his power, position, and authority was at risk), God has turned away (he was suffering spiritually), and no prophet answers (he was alone, he was suffering socially). Yeah, this is about the time most people turn to God. And sometimes it is too late. Those choices were made a long time ago. God will not correct your mess. The wise choice is to begin to seek God now when times are good rather than wait for the bad times when you come falling at his feet.

 

PONDER:

1. Are we seeking God now or living for ourselves?
2. What is it going to take to turn your life around? Let me give you a clue -- God will go where you do not want to go.

 

PRAYER: Father, you have taken me through some dark valleys early in my life. And while they were 30-plus years ago, the pain is still there. I don't want to live that life again. I want to seek you while I can with my whole heart and soul.